Former Chelsea Boss Mauricio Pochettino says player Manchester United sold for £17M in 2019 is now an absolute world class and has turned into a beast.
Mauricio Pochettino has stirred up the football world with a bold and emotional claim about a former Premier League player who was once overlooked and sold for just £17 million. According to the ex-Chelsea boss, that decision now looks like one of the biggest mistakes in recent memory, as the player has grown into a global superstar.
In an interview that quickly caught fire online, Pochettino expressed disbelief at how easily this talent was let go. “They were foolish for selling him,” he said. “They sold him for just £17M and now he has become the best player in the world and he’s at the top of the world.”
Though he didn’t mention any club or player by name, football fans didn’t hesitate to speculate. Two names in particular came to dominate the conversation: Moussa Diaby and Serge Gnabry. Both were sold for modest fees and were seen as expendable at the time, only to later become major forces in world football.
Diaby, sold by PSG to Bayer Leverkusen in 2019, has since built a reputation as a lightning-quick winger with exceptional output and relentless energy. His rise has earned him a regular spot in the French national team, and his recent move to Aston Villa has seen him shine in the Premier League, dismantling defenses and winning admiration from fans and pundits alike.
Gnabry, meanwhile, was once let go by Arsenal after an unsuccessful loan stint at West Brom. Many had written him off. But after joining Bayern Munich, he transformed completely — becoming a Champions League winner and one of the Bundesliga’s most dangerous attackers. His success story is now used as a cautionary tale for clubs too quick to give up on youth.
Pochettino’s remarks have reignited discussions around how English clubs sometimes fail to recognize or nurture their young talent. The frustration among supporters is palpable, with many questioning how such potential was ever allowed to leave so cheaply. For scouts and former coaches involved in these transfers, it’s a haunting reminder of what might have been.
Whether it’s Diaby, Gnabry, or another player entirely, the message behind Pochettino’s words is clear: sometimes clubs act too soon — and in doing so, they let greatness slip through their fingers.
